Electrically-operated valve



J. E. DAVIDSON AND C: HOLLAND.

'ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE.

v APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1916- 1,3()'7,899, Patented June 24, 1919.

' 4- SHEETS-SHEET l IIVVE/l/TORS Jame-s W Afro/Mrs J. E. DAVIDSON AND C. HOLLAND.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8. 1916.

Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES J. E. DAVIDSON ANDQC. HOLLAND.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-18 19KB.

Patented June 24:, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHED 3.

D INVENTORS ATTORNEYS ames Uuftb 8 2 J. E. DAVIDSON AND 0. HOLLAND.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. IBWQIGI 1 07,8999 Patented June 24,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 WITNESSES mmvro/rs v a 6 W JameJ 11D 21' 0 J Gun-tbs flow f ATTORNEYS JAMES EDWARD DAVIDSON AND CURTIS HOLLAND, or BUTTE, MONTANA.

ELECTBICALLY-QPERATED VAL VE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnted J 113 24 19111 Application filed October 18, 1916. Serial No. 126,435.

To all whdm it may concern.

Be it known that we, JAMEsE. .DAVIDSON and CUR'rIs HOLLAND, citizens of the United States, and residents of Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Valves, of which the following is a specification.

tilt

of, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the valve illustrating more particularly the switch.

Our invention relates generally to valves,

more specifically to that type of valves having self contained electrical mechanism adapted to be operated by an electrical current from a distance, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of our invention is to provide a service valve arranged to be installed in a pipe line at the required places, and including a closing mechanism which isadapted to be operated by an electrical current from a distance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve, as described, which includes an indicating mechanism at the place from which the valve is to be operated, the position of the closing member of the valve being thereby ascertainable by'the operator.

Uther objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following specification, reference being had to the ac-- companying drawing forming apart thereboard mechanism, the valve at this position being closed.

Fig. 2 is a rear view ofthe valve operating and indicating device, Figs. 1 and 2 being read together at the lines 00-4).

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connections between the valve and the distantly located actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valve, the cover plate being removed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line,- -55 of Fig. 4, parts being in elevation. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the brush arm.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of thebrush. r I

Fig. 8 is az'perspective view of the valve fiewed from a position opposite to that of i 1. 1 Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

and 10.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on Fig. -9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section on line 1111 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the terminal board showing the connection of the inner terminal ring. Fig. 13' is a vertical section on line 13-13 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 14 is a detail cross section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 1

In carrying out our invention we provide a bracket 1, which is arranged to be secured to the service valve 2, as indicated clearly in Figs. 5 and 8. The bracket 1 includes a downwardly extending spider 3, at its front end, and secured to the spider 3 is a terminal board 4. The terminal board 4 is conline 1( 10 of i structed of insulating fiber or any other suitboard 4, as shown in Fig. 1, is an inner ter-. minal ring 7, which has a laterally extend ing tongue 8, which, when the switch board is assembled, is bent backwardly through the opening 6, and is. secured to the'back of the terminal board, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. Arranged coaxially with the inner terminal ring 7 and secured to the board 4, is a terminal ring consisting of a pair of segments 9 Each of the segments 9 and 10 has an extended ear 9 and 10 respectively, to which certain of the circuit wires are connected, as will be presently explained.

Projecting through the opening 5 of the terminal board 4 is a shaft 11. The shaft 11 carries at its outer end, a brush arm 12. By reference to Fig. 14 it will be seen that the brush arm 12 is insulated from the shaft 11 ,by a brush arm insulator13 and a brush arm insulating washer 14. .f'flhe base of the brush segments .9 and 10, as shown in Fig. 1. As 11?! sired position. In

the spider 3. Disposed at the end'of the.

driving arms 18 is a fulcrum pin 20 on which the pawl 16 is mounted. The pawl 16 is retained in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 17 by a tension spring 21, the spring being suitably secured between the driving arms 18 and to the pawl 16, as shown in Fig. 9. Joined to the fulcrum pin 20 is -a link 22. The link 22 at itsother end is pivoted to the lower end net core 23. The core 23 is composed of laminations of annealed sheet iron, and riveted, as shown, a core of this construction offering better conductivity to the lines of force. The core 23 reciprocates within the coil of a solenoid magnet 24, and as the coil is energized the core 23 will bedrawn inwardly, moving the driving arms 18 upwardly and rotating the ratchet 17 a portion of a revolution in a counter clockwise direction, as indicated energization of the coil 24 and consequently the repeated reciprocation of the core 23 will of a solenoid magcause ratchet 17 to be rotated step by step' and the shaft 11 rotated in consequence.

The spool of the'solenoid magnet is provided at the top with an adjustable stop 25.

The inward thrust of the core 23 maybe reg- .ulated by adjusting the stop 25 to the depractice the stop 25 will.

be situated such a distance from the end of the core 23 when the latter is in its normal position, ratchet 17 the distance of one tooth, when the core 23 is attracted. The solenoid magnet 24 is mounted on the bracket 1, and is secured thereto by suitable screws as shown 'in Fig. 11.

The shaft 11 extends into the body of the .valve 2, through' and isisuitably journaled in the body of the valve as shown in Fig. 5. The shaft ll-carries a fixed pinion 27, which meshes with a gear valve 28. The gear valve 28 is mounted on a stud 29, which is screwed as at 30 into the web 31 of the valve. The web 31 is provlded with a plurality of segmental openings 32, with which similar openings 33 of the gear valve 28 are adapted to register when the gear valve is rotated, as presently to be explained. The gear valve 28 is retained in water tight engagement with the web 31- by a tension spring 34.

the gear valve 28,

in Fig. 9. The repeated as will insure the movement of the a suitable stufling gland 26 and bears against the head ofthe stud 29,

as'shown in Fig. 5. Access may be had to the interior of the valve for repairing and other purposes, by the removal of the cover plate 36.

Arranged at a distance from the valve 2, the valve actuator and indicator mechanism 37, as shown in Fig. 2. The indicator includes a casing 38, which is provided with a glazed reading opening 39. The positions of an indicating finger 40 may be ascertained through the glazed opening 39, which, for the purpose of determining the location of the gear valve 28, is inscribed with the words On and Off. The indicating finger 40 is fulcrumed on a magnet base 42, as at 41, and as will be presently explained, exercises the functions of an armature. The indicating finger 40 isadapted to be attracted by either of a pair of indicating magnets 43 and 44.

One end of each of the windings of the indicator magnets 43 and 44 is connected in series with one terminal 45 by wires 56 and 56* of a switch 46, as indicated in Fig. 3. The switch 46 preferablly consists of a push button as indicated in Fig. 2. The other terminal 47 of the switch 46 is connected to the positive pole of a source of electrical energy 48 by a wire 49. The other end of the winding of the magnet 43 is connected to the ear 9 of the segment 9 by a wire 50, while the other end of the winding of the magnet 44 is connected to the ar 10 of the terminal segment 10 by a wire 51 on the terminal board 4. The board 4 is provided with a terminal 52 to which the wire 53 leading fromthe negative pole of the source of electrical energy 48 is connected. A wire 54 is connected to the terminal 52 on the board 4 and to one end of the winding of the solenoid magnet 24. The other end of the windingof the magnet 24 is connected by a wire 55, to the terminal represented by the tongue 8.

Having thus described the construction of our invention, the operation thereof is as follows Let it be assumed that the openings 32 and 33 are out of registration, as indicated in Fig. 13, the valve at this time being closed. If it is now desired to open the valve or to move the gear valve 28 which will bring the openings 32 and 33 into registration, the push button 46 is pressed and the circuit is closed between the terminals 45 and 47 in Fig. 3. Current now flows from the positive pole of the source of election shown in Figs. 1 and 3, indicated off. The current now passes from the segment 9 through the brush 15, to the inner terminal ring 7, from the ring 7 over the tongue 8 to the terminal 55, and from thence to the windings of the solenoid magnet 24. Current returns to the battery 48 over the wire 54,

through terminal 52, and over the wire 53v to the negative pole. A complete circuit being now established, the core 23 of the solenoid magnet 24 is drawn inwardly. The ratchet 17- and the shaft 11 by which the ratchet 17 is carried, is rotated a distance equal to one tooth. A partial rotation of the shaft 11 is imparted to the valve gear 28 through the pinion 27 and the valve is opened a corresponding distance. The brush arm 12 will have also moved a corresponding distance over the ring 7 and segment 9, the brush 15 remaining in contact with these members until a position presently to be referred to, is reached.

The finger pressure is now relieved from the push button 46. Upon pressing the push button 46 again, the passage of the current from the battery 48, and the actuation of the solenoid 24 is repeated. The valve is thus opened wider. The operation attendant upon pressing the push button 46 is repeated until the openings 32 and 33 are in full registration, the valve at this time being open. When the fully open position of the valve is reached the brush 15 will have passed from contact with the switch segment 9 to contact with the switch segment 10, this position being indicated in dotted.

lines in Fig. 3.

Assume the brush 15 to now be in engagement with the switch segment 10. Upon depressing the push button 46 current willpass from the positive pole of the battery-48 over the wire 49, through the switch 46, over the wires 56 and 56 to the windings of the indicator magnet The current now passes from the indicator magnet 44 over the wire 51, to the ear 10 of the segment 10. From thence it'passes over the-brush 15 of the ring 7. The current passes from the ring 7 through the terminal 55 to the windings of the solenoid magnet 24, from thence to the negative pole of the battery 48, as formerly. The solenoid. magnet 24 being now energized, the. core 23 is drawn inwaregy, and a partial rotation of the shaft 11 performed in consequence. The valve now begins to close, and will continue to close by such degrees as is represented by the extent of one of the teeth of the ratchet 17,

each time the push button switch 46 is subsequently closed.

It has been stated that the current now flows through the windings of the indicator magnet 44, this having occurred at the moment when the brush 15 engages the segment 10. The core of the magnet '44 at that mement attracted the armature of the indicating finger 40, causing the finger to point to the word On in the glazed opening 39. The operator now understands that the valve is fully open. The subsequent depressions of the push button switch 46 will cause the valve to gradually close, as has been ex plained, the brush 15 in the meantime moving upwardly toward the breach in the outer terminal rings. As soon as the brush moves IIItO contact with the segment 9, the current will be shunted from the indicator magnet of the device are those of a preferred form,

it is obvious that various modifications thereof may be .made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claimzj,

1. In a device of the character described; the combination of a valve body having a valve seat, an axially mounted gear valve on the valve seat, a shaft, a pinion on the shaft in engagement with the gear valve, a ratchet on the shaft, a driving arm mounted on the shaft adjacent to the ratchet, a pawl fulcrumed onthe driving arm, a spring joined to the pawl and to the driving arm to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet, a link pivoted on the fulcrum pin of the pawl, a solenoid magnet having a core pivoted to the link, said core being composed of laminations, a normally open electrical circuit in series with the solenoid, a source of electrical energy in said circuit, and a switch for closing the circuit thereby attracting the core.

2. In a device as described, the combination of a-valve body having a valve seat,

' a gear valve mounted coaxially of the valve seat, and adapted to be rotated step-by-step in zones from an off to an on position, a rotatable shaft, a pinion on the shaft for engagement with the gear valve, a solenoid having a core. adapted to be reciprocated, connections between the core and the shaft, a normally open electrical circuit in series with the solenoid, a source of electrical energy in the circuit, a terminal ring associated with said valve'body, connected in the electrical circuit, segments concentrically disposed of the terminal rin and connected in the electrical circuit, a rush carried by and insulated from the shaft, bridging the terminal ring and one of the concentric segments, an indicator in the circuit including an electro magn'et ener gized by the circuit completed at the bridged ring and segment, and a pointer attracted by said electro-magnet for indicating the ofl' zone of rotation of the valve. I

3. In a device as described, the combination of the valve body, a rotatable gear valve adapted to move in a zone from a closed to an open position, a shaft for rotating the valve, a solenoid including a core adapted to reciprocate, connections between the core and the shaft, a normally open electric circuit embracing the solenoid in series, a source of electrical energy in the circuit, indicator electro-magnets in the circuit, a terminal board, a terminal ring in circuit with one end of the solenoid, terminal segments disposed concentrically ofthe terminal ring, each segment being in circuit with one end of the respective indicator electro-magnets, a brush arm on the valve shaft, a brush on the arm for bridging the terminal ring and one of the seg ments and energizing one of the said electromagnets, a manually operated switch in said circuit, and a pointer adapted to be attracted by the energized electro-magnets when the switch is closed, to indicate the zone of movement traversed by the valve.

4. In a device as described, a valve body including a valve seat, a gear valve rotatable over the seat, a gear valve actuating shaft projecting out of the valve body, a

terminal board having an opening admitting the end of said shaft, a terminal ring on the board surrounding the shaft end, a pair of terminal segments disposed concentrically of. the "terminal ring, a brush arm carried by and insulated from the end of said shaft, a brush on the arm engaging the terminal ring and one of thesegments, a solenoid magnet mounted on the valve body, and pawl and ratchet connections between the solenoid magnet core and said shaft, for rotating said gear valve and brush arm in one direction.

5.- In-a valve including the valve body, a rotatable valve plate, a bracket secured to the valve body and having a pendent spider, an insulating terminal board secured to the spider, a valve shaft projecting out of the valve body and through the terminal board, a terminal ring on the board surrounding the shaft end, a pair of terminal segments surrounding the terminal ring, a brush arm mounted on the valve shaft, insulating means between the arm and the shaft, a brush carried by the armincluding fingers bridging the terminal ring and one of the terminal segments, a ratchet mounted upon the valve shaft behind the spider, driving arm and pawl connections supported on said shaft and engaging the ratchet respectively, a wheel carried by the spider, limiting the movement of the driving arms in one direction, a solenoid magnet mounted upon the bracket, and a core reciprocating in the solenoid magnet and having connection with the driving arms.

JAMES EDWARD DAVIDSON. CURTIS HOLLAND. 

